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Surrounded by a sea of fans, the Bosse Bulldogs celebrate their victory over the Danville Warriors in the IHSAA Class 3A semistates at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

The Bosse Bulldogs rush the court after defeating the Danville Warriors in the IHSAA Class 3A semistates at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

Bosse's Mekhi Lairy (2) makes a layup during the IHSAA Class 3A semistates against the Danville Warriors at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

Bosse's Mekhi Lairy (2) drives to the net during the IHSAA Class 3A semi state match up against the Danville Warriors at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

The Bosse Bulldogs huddle before taking on the Danville Warriors in the IHSAA Class 3A semi state match up at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

The Bosse Bulldogs take on the Danville Warriors at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

Bosse's Kiyron Powell (52) blocks Danville’s Dillon Ware (23) from the net during the IHSAA Class 3A semistates at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

Bosse's Javen Layne (10) makes a layup during the IHSAA Class 3A semistates at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

Bosse's Mekhi Lairy (2) talks to a referee as his teammates Bosse's Javen Layne (10) and Jaylen Minor (23) stand beside him during the IHSAA Class 3A semistates against the Danville Warriors at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

Surrounded by a sea of fans, the Bosse Bulldogs celebrate their victory over the Danville Warriors in the IHSAA Class 3A semistates at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

Bosse's Jaylin Chinn (1) shoots over Danville’s Connor Jones (11) during the IHSAA Class 3A semistates at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

Danville’s Dillon Ware (23) attempts to stop Bosse's Kiyron Powell (52) from knocking the ball out of the hands of Danville’s Alec Burton (2) during the IHSAA Class 3A semistates at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

The Bosse Bulldogs student section cheers after a three-pointer is made against the Danville Warriors during the IHSAA Class 3A semistates at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

Danville’s Alec Burton (2) makes a layup during the IHSAA Class 3A semistates against the Bosse Bulldogs at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

Danville’s Alec Burton (2) is trapped by Bosse defensemen Jaylen Minor (23) and George Madison III (11) during the IHSAA Class 3A semistates at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

Bosse's Mekhi Lairy (2) takes a shot during the IHSAA Class 3A semistates against the Danville Warriors at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

Bosse's George Madison III (11) dribbles down the court during the IHSAA Class 3A semistates against the Danville Warriors at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

Bosse's De’Angelo Ware (3) makes a layup during the IHSAA Class 3A semistates against the Danville Warriors at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

The Bosse Bulldogs and the Danville Warriors fight for a rebound during the IHSAA Class 3A semistates at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

The Bosse Bulldogs celebrate their victory over the Danville Warriors during the IHSAA Class 3A semistates at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

The Bosse Bulldogs celebrate their victory over the Danville Warriors during the IHSAA Class 3A semistates at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

The starting lineup for the Bosse Bulldogs waits to be announced before the start of the IHSAA Class 3A semistates against the Danville Warriors at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Bulldogs will advance to next Saturday's state championship after defeating the Warriors 64-61.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS

Bosse's Mekhi Lairy (2) drives to the net during the IHSAA Class 3A semi state match up against the Danville Warriors at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018.(Photo: SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS)Buy Photo

WASHINGTON – All season, Mekhi Lairy has had one goal in mind: returning to state.

He didn’t really care that much about becoming the City’s career scoring leader in boys’ basketball. All he wanted to do return to Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Bogged down in a relatively slow-paced slugfest in the first half, Bosse picked up the pace and went on a 7-0 run at the beginning of the third quarter. The Bulldogs held on to defeat Danville, 64-61, Saturday night in the Class 3A Washington Semistate at the Hatchet House.

But it wasn’t easy. Lairy had to hit four free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the win.

Alec Burton, a 6-foot-6 forward headed to play football for Ohio, converted a rebound and ensuing free throw for a traditional 3-point play to trim Danville’s deficit to 62-61 with 17.6 seconds left. Lairy was fouled with 14.1 seconds showing and made both shots to increase the advantage to three.

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The Bosse Bulldogs huddle before taking on the Danville Warriors in the IHSAA Class 3A semi state match up at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018.(Photo: SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS)

Connor Jones missed a 3-pointer from the left wing, but Danville secured the rebound. However, Sam Comer’s 3-point attempt from the right corner missed and Bosse’s return trip to state was finally secured.

Bosse will play Culver Academy in a rematch of an early-season game at 5 p.m. CDT next Saturday for the state championship at Bankers Life. The No. 3 Bulldogs have a 25-4 record; No. 4 Culver is 22-6. The Eagles beat New Castle 65-60 in the northern semistate. Lairy increased his career scoring total to 2,209 points.

Bosse defeated the Eagles 74-64 on Dec. 16. The last time Culver advanced to state was in 2011 when it lost to Cody Zeller and Washington, 61-46.

Bosse has been on a mission to return to state ever since it lost the title game 73-68 to Marion in 2016 when Lairy and Jaylin Chinn were sophomores. Or as assistant coach Johnte' Hawkins said: “Be Phenomenal or Be Forgotten.” The Bulldogs were ousted 84-77 by Indianapolis Crispus Attucks in the Seymour Semistate last season.

“The first year (2016) they (Lairy and Chinn) didn’t know what was going to happen,” said Bosse coach Shane Burkhart. “Erik Bell and Ethan Thomas led the team. That’s why (Lairy, Chinn and Jaylen Minor) are here. They bought into everything else.”

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Bosse's De’Angelo Ware (3) drives to the net as Danville’s Dillon Ware (23) blocks his shot during the IHSAA Class 3A semi state matchup at the Hatchet House in Washington, Ind., Saturday, March 17, 2018.(Photo: SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS)

Over and over, teams have tried to slow the Bulldogs down, often with mixed success.

“If we make them play our game, we’re pretty hard to beat,” Burkhart said.

Danville’s physical play reminded him of Tri-West, which lost to the Bulldogs in the semistate, 74-71, in double overtime two years ago.

Danville pounded the offensive glass and was taking control early until Burton was whistled for a technical foul, hiking his personal foul total to three with the Warriors leading 18-12 with 56.4 seconds left in the first quarter. Lairy hit one of two free throws and nailed a 17-footer from the left corner to trim the deficit to 18-15 at the end of the period.

CLOSE

The Bosse Bulldogs are headed back to state after an intense, 64-61 victory over Danville in the Class 3A semistate at Washington.
Kyle Sokeland / Courier & Press

Chinn rose up and buried a 15-footer over a Danville defender at the end of the second quarter to give the Bulldogs a 30-28 lead at intermission.

It marked the second time Danville was ousted in semistate by an Evansville team. Memorial defeated the Warriors 28-7 last fall in the football semistate.